|
Post by matt the rat on Apr 17, 2009 17:36:00 GMT 1
Just out of interest.
Overall favourite, taking into account product choice, delivery, customer support etc.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Apr 17, 2009 20:00:54 GMT 1
For other should have put ag stores.
|
|
|
Post by Phil on Apr 17, 2009 22:00:05 GMT 1
Overall the three I use are killgerm, Barrentine and SX for I guess a 50% share of my goods purchase, I try to use the best quality product and at a reasonable cost, ordering as I have a job come in and I also carry a varied amount of stock in my vans chemical safe purely to be able to undertake any job.
I used to use one company and after spending 1140.00 in less than a year, I
|
|
|
Post by Phil on Apr 17, 2009 22:20:36 GMT 1
continuation
I applied for a free course they had going at the time and have been advised I did not qualify because I had not purchased 1200.00 pounds worth in a calendar year I did say that I had been only been buying from them for a few months and the only reason for this is it clicked into another year but I would be more than on target over the year coming - result - no free course !!!
now I look around and buy for quality and price and limit the purchases to the no course company to a small % - my local UAP store has / will have stock of a lot of the common brands and I can collect them straight away normally.
Horses for courses as they say - the bigger companies are fine for products and information - but sometimes they operate a one way street of all take and no give and if you are a small pest control company there is a definite plus to shopping around and keeping a portfolio of suppliers who appreciate the trade from small companies.
one of my suppliers actually has my cards and flyers and gives them to clients who want information about pests and wildlife
Enough said, I nearly fell off my soap box, in all the excitement, anyway better sign off, will use all the forum space up.
All the best guys
Phil
ps sorry about the 2 bit part - pushed the button too early again
|
|
|
Post by djtim on Apr 17, 2009 23:03:09 GMT 1
I bet you say that to all the girls Phil. ;D Just a bit of premature enunciation, nothing to be ashamed about.
|
|
|
Post by matt the rat on Apr 17, 2009 23:54:04 GMT 1
For other should have put ag stores. I can relate to that when I see Mole Valley Farmers selling Difenecoum on whole wheat (made by PelGar, I think) for £27.95 per 20kg, when the main suppliers are around £10 dearer.
|
|
|
Post by andytps on Apr 18, 2009 0:08:35 GMT 1
Have used most of the above suppliers, and just like we as smaller companies promote the we are smaller so we try harder attitude my vote has gone to the one who has always made us feel like we important.
Plus it generally has the best prices next day delivery and has bent over backwards to fulfil the order even on a Saturday at their cost when a small error was made.
Another of the suppliers has twice promised and twice failed with the next day delivery to the point where we were on a roof waiting for parts promised next day. At 1pm we were told they would be with us by 3pm they told us that because they were only agents for the supplier it was down to the supplier to dispatch the order which they hadn't. 5 days later the parts arrived end of story who paid for the rehire of the cherry picker?
The local rep offered us some free samples and an apology and then blurted to every other company who would listen how I had told him exactley what I thought of him and his company. We are still waiting for an explanation 18 months later.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Apr 18, 2009 4:45:48 GMT 1
Well Andy I can relate to that. Had a meeting arranged with an area rep. he made appointment. On allocated day I phoned to check, he had decided not to see me, obviously some one more important, hadn't phoned me. Saw him at Pest Tech, quiet word, still not been in touch. I now buy most of my rodenticide from the ag stores. Like Phil they have my business cards and pass work to me. In 7 years I have never had work passed to me by our Industry Suppliers! Those in their good books I'm sure get those leads.
|
|
|
Post by dograt on Apr 18, 2009 10:47:51 GMT 1
At one stage or another I have used most of them. First Killgerm I stopped with them when I heard there was going to be a tariff put on the tech helpline, went to ind pest cant remember why I stopped think it was lack of some items went with Barrentine never had a problem with them. But essex phoned had a chat and I went with them, did have one slight problem with them but it was the carriage companys fault had a load of sacks delivered they came on a pallet and the driver just dumped the pallet in the middle of the Street !!! expecting my wife to move it! I did get an apology from essex not that it was their fault and they have changed couriers now not had a problem since. The training Killgerm offer is tempting I must admit particularly now the CPD thing is raising its head as an "Advantage" in the BRC auditors eyes. Although have to say I did buy a load of E-Z baiters from sx and hardly any of them kept the lids on, I did ask for some replacements but never got any would say myself that the lids dropping off so quickly and easily was an "INHERENT" fault would you not? Yet again saying that in general they have had some pretty good new products trap in a box etc Never really thought about going to mole valley matt it always seemed a bit more expensive but with one in Yeovil and one in Cullompton it would make it easy if we just wanted to get the odd bag or 20! So to round that off I voted sx
|
|
|
Post by abpest on Apr 18, 2009 13:47:28 GMT 1
A thought.....Interesting though this thread could be, it needs to be balanced by asking the suppliers what they think of us as customers! Or are we all perfect? Trouble is, that will never happen, will it? Adrian.
|
|
|
Post by nick on Apr 18, 2009 15:20:33 GMT 1
They would vote for them selves any way.
|
|
|
Post by Phil on Apr 19, 2009 0:02:17 GMT 1
djtim
you knows wot them kent boys are like, if you can't do the job in one, it's always best to have a 2 parter.
ATB Phil
|
|